ERCES BDA System Installation: A Guide for Condo Building Owners and Association Board Members to Save Time, Money, and Hassle
As a condo building owner or association board member, you're likely aware of the importance of installing an ERCES BDA (Emergency Response Communication Enhancement System) in your building. However, the process of getting a fair, reliable, and accurate quote can be overwhelming. Without a clear understanding of the system's requirements and costs, it's easy to get lost in a sea of numbers and brands. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of having a system design done before putting the project out for bid, and how NDC’s ERCES BDA Design and Consulting services can help you achieve cost savings and transparency.
The Importance of System Design First
It's essential to understand that having a system design done before bidding is not an added expense, but rather a necessary step in ensuring that you get a fair and accurate quote. All projects require an iBwave design and PE stamp included in the submittal package, which is either buried in the proposal bulk price or padded and spread throughout the bid if contractors show sectional pricing.
The Benefits of Having a Design Done Ahead of the Bid
Having a system design done ahead of the bid will enable you to have more control over the project and save money overall. When you have the design ready, all contractors will need to apply it to their bid, giving you a clear understanding of what you're getting for your money. Our designs are brand-agnostic, meaning that they can be seamlessly integrated with various ERCES BDA system brands. This approach ensures that contractors have the flexibility to choose the best products for your project, while still meeting the specific requirements outlined in our design. In other words, contractors will need to ensure that their chosen products meet the criteria outlined in our design, rather than trying to adapt our design to fit their specific products. This results in a more streamlined and cost-effective process, as you can be confident that the chosen solution meets your exact needs. This approach also ensures that contractors are providing accurate estimates, eliminating the need for vague or inflated bids.
Why It's Not an Added Expense
You might think that having a design done ahead of the bid is an added expense, but in reality, it's just a necessary step in the process. The iBwave design and PE stamp are already required components of any project, so including them in the bidding process is simply a matter of timing. By doing the design up front, you are not allowing your quotes to be confusing, inflated, or missing elements that may surprise you in extra fees. Our designs will compliant for your jurisdiction. If there is ever an issue with our design not being compliant, we’ll make corrections at no added costs.
Our RFP Service: A High-Level Overview
In addition to our design service, we offer an RFP (Request for Proposal) service that takes things a step further. Our RFP service provides a high level of detail about your project requirements, giving contractors a clear understanding of what's expected of them. This approach helps ensure that all bidders are on the same page, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and disputes.
Get Transparency and Accuracy with Our RFP Service
When it comes to project bids, it's not uncommon for contractors to provide a bulk quote with no details to indicate the type of system or brand being used. What you may not see is that this bulk price is often padded with unnecessary costs or hidden fees, and if all your quotes are providing the same level of padding, you’re forced to accept the padded fees. This can leave you wondering what exactly you're getting for your money and whether the contractor is truly providing the best value.
Our RFP service eliminates this uncertainty by breaking down the project into its main categories, including material costs, design costs, installation costs, and permitting. This approach forces contractors to stand behind their reasoning and provides you with a clear understanding of where every dollar is being spent.
See the Breakdown: A Clear Picture of Your Project Costs
With our RFP service, you'll receive a detailed breakdown of the project costs, including:
- Instead of a line-item breakdown, we provide a detailed list of all materials required for the project, including quantities and a bulk price. This approach allows the bid to be easily understood without the need for unnecessary drilling down to a product level complexity.
- Design costs: A clear explanation of the design process and any associated fees
- Installation costs: A breakdown of the labor and equipment costs involved in installing the ERCES BDA system
- Permitting costs: A clear outline of any permitting fees and requirements
This level of transparency gives you the power to make informed decisions about your project, ensuring that you're getting the best value for your money.
Avoid Costly Surprises Down the Line
By breaking down the project into its main categories, our RFP service helps eliminate the risk of costly surprises down the line. You'll know exactly what you're getting and what you're paying for, reducing the likelihood of disputes or misunderstandings with your contractor.
Consulting Services: Expert Guidance Every Step of the Way
Our consulting services don't stop at design and RFP creation. We also offer expert guidance throughout the entire bidding process, including contractor interviews, Q&A sessions, and bid selection. This means that you can trust that your project is in good hands from start to finish.
No Conflict of Interest: Competitive Pricing Guaranteed
In cases where we're bidding on your project, we're committed to offering competitive pricing that reflects our expertise and experience. We believe that our services are valuable additions to your project, but we're also committed to being transparent about our pricing. If we win the bid, we'll even deduct the cost of our design fee from our final invoice, giving you an added layer of savings.
Conclusion
Installing an ERCES BDA system doesn't have to be a daunting or an overly expensive process. By working with NDC for our ERCES BDA Design and Consulting services, condo building owners and board members can save time, money, and hassle while ensuring that their project is completed to exacting standards. With our comprehensive design services, RFP support, consulting expertise, and competitive pricing guarantees, we're committed to helping you achieve your goals while staying within budget. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you navigate the world of ERCES BDA system installation.
Our ERCES Designs are Code Compliant, Backed by Engineers, and Fit Any Contractor
Our designs meet state and jurisdictional code and are well-thought-out solutions backed by engineers and software modeling.
We do not ask contractors to deviate from industry best practices or compromise on quality. Our designs are efficient, scalable, and tailored to the project's specific needs. Any skilled and experienced contractor can work with our designs without issue. Our designs tend to lean a tad on the conservative side to protect everyone involved, thus ensuring full compliance.
Don't let anyone fool you into believing that a contractor needs to provide their own design, as a complaint design is a complaint design. It's not about being stubborn or inflexible; it's about adapting to what the customer wants. If a contractor is unable or unwilling to do so, then perhaps they aren’t the right fit for your project.